PTK7 Expression in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Background: Protein tyrosine kinase-7 (PTK7) plays an important role in cancer. Our aim was to evaluate PTK7 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Materials and Methods: PTK7 Expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 133 patients with TNBC. Expression levels were correlated with clinicopathological features and survival, taking chemotherapy into account. Results: Positive PTK7 expression was detected in 28.6% of tumors. In the total population, no significant difference was detected in disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) related to PTK7 status. However, in patients treated by chemotherapy, patients with PTK7-negative tumors seemed to have better DFS than those with PTK7-positive tumors, particularly for patients treated with only anthracycline- therapy drugs. In patients receiving other chemotherapy regimens, PTK7 status had no significant impact on DFS or OS. Conclusion: Our results support earlier findings that PTK7 may be associated with resistance to anthracycline- based chemotherapy.